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Rayner was the highest-ranking Labour MP to criticise the message on Sunday, writing in a series of tweets that it “just won’t cut it” and that “we don’t need slogans we need a plan”.

Without a proper testing and tracing program as well as the social distancing measures, any release of the lockdown conditions risks a second peak. We have to follow the science and best practices from around the world. #coronavirus#StayAlert just won’t cut it.

Until we deal with issues like this we cannot lift any of the lockdown conditions successfully. I’m getting lots of messages similar where there is long delays in results. We have to test & trace, that’s a strategy not #StayAlert tracking the virus & stopping its spread is key. https://t.co/a5xbn3nk6p

“This virus exploits ambivalence, it thrives on ambiguity and I think the problem with the slogan... is people will be looking slightly puzzled, questioning: ‘What does it mean to stay alert? What are the government saying with that?’

“So I hope that Boris Johnson will offer us that crystal-clear clarity tonight that is desperately needed.”